higher than previously thought. the number marked a boost topresidentobama's reelectionbid in the aftermath of his widely criticized debate performance last week. addressing supporters of the university of virginia, obama said the country has come too far to turn back. >> more people are getting jobs. every month reminds us we still have too many friends and neighbors who are looking for work, and to many middle-class families are struggling to pay the bills. they were struggling long before the crisis hit. but today's news certainly is not an excuse to try to talk down the economy to score a few political points. it is a reminder this country has come too far to turn back now. >> also campaigning in virginia, republican challenger mitt romney downplayed the new figures. >> this cannot go on. when i am president of the united states, when i am president of the united states -- [applause] that unemployment rate is going to come down not because people are giving up and dropping out of the work force, but because we are creating more jobs. i will create jobs to get america wo

goodman. with less thanfiveweeksbeforethe general election,presidentobamaandrepublican presidential nominee mitt romney squared off in their first presidential debate wednesday in denver, colorado. for 90 minutes, the candidates faced off over taxes, unemployment, economic regulations, social security, health care, education, partisan gridlock and other domestic issues. romney repeatedly attacked obama's record, often putting the president on the defensive. many supporters of obama have expressed surprise that he never mentioned several of romney's potential weak spots, including his record as the private equity firm bain capital. also his vast personal wealth and offshore investments, and his recent remark that 47% of americans are government dependents. some domestic issues went virtually unmentioned wednesday night, including immigration policy, global warming, gun control, incarceration rates, and poverty. some key voices were shut out the conversation, including those of third-party presidential candidates. as obama and romney were facing off at the university of d